The scary Los Angeles Dodgers roster just got better after they signed outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to a one-year, $23.5 million contract. ESPN’s MLB insider Jeff Passan shared that $8.5 million will be deferred payments from 2030 to 2039.
The Dominican outfielder played for the Seattle Mariners last season, finishing with a .258 batting average, 161 hits, 93 runs batted in, and 26 home runs in 625 at-bats.
Dodgers, OF Teoscar Hernández reportedly agree to 1-year deal, per https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39's @juanctoribio. pic.twitter.com/2PwqSzxzTy
— MLB (@MLB) January 8, 2024
Hernandez’s best years in Major League Baseball (so far) came during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. While playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, Hernandez earned two Silver Slugger awards, one All-Star appearance, and received votes for the American League Most Valuable Player award.
He had 550 at-bats in 2021, finishing with career highs in batting average (.296), hits (163), RBIs (116), and home runs (32). Despite that feat, the Blue Jays traded him to the Mariners for Adam Macko and Erik Swanson a year later.
Before playing for the Blue Jays, Hernandez suited up for the Houston Astros but was traded in July 2017. Houston gave up Hernandez and Nori Aoki to the Blue Jays for Francisco Liriano.
Hernandez joins the star-studded offseason haul for the Dodgers. They acquired two-time American League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani on a ten-year, $700 million contract. Like Hernandez, he will also receive deferred payments from 2034 to 2043.
Aside from Ohtani, the Dodgers also signed three-time Nippon Professional Baseball Pacific League MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract. Los Angeles’ National League team also acquired Tyler Glasnow via a trade before agreeing to a five-year, $136.5 million extension. Center fielder Manuel Margot is also part of the swap that brought Glasnow to LA.
These signings bolster a highly talented roster featuring second baseman Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Jason Heyward, catcher Will Smith, and shortstop Miguel Rojas.
-Lance Fernandez